Fuel injection device according to the solid-state energy storage principle for internal combustion engines

Abstract

The invention pertains to a fuel injection device operating according to the solidstate energy storage principle, whereby a rotor element carried in a pump housing of an electromagnetically driven reciprocating pump is accelerated almost without resistance, whereby the rotor element stores kinetic energy and impacts on a piston element, so that a pressure impulse is generated in the fuel contained in a closed pressure chamber before the piston element due to the fact that the stored kinetic energy of the rotor element is transferred via the piston element to the fuel in the pressure chamber and whereby the pressure impulse is used for the injection of fuel through a nozzle and whereby the rotor element is carried form-locking on the piston element and the two elements are mutually spring-mounted.

We claim: 
     
       1. Fuel injection device operating according to the solid-state energy storage principle, whereby a rotor element (10) contained in a pump housing (8) of an electromagnetically driven reciprocating pump (1) is accelerated virtually without resistance, whereby the rotor element (10) stores kinetic energy and impacts on a piston element (14), so that a pressure impulse is generated in the fuel contained in a sealed pressure chamber (15) before the piston element (14) due to the fact that the stored kinetic energy of the rotor element (10) is transferred via the piston element (14) to the fuel contained in the pressure chamber (15) and whereby the pressure impulse is used for the injection of fuel through an injection device (3), characterized by the fact that the rotor element (10) is carried form-locking on the piston element (1). 
     
     
       2. Fuel injection device as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the rotor element (10) and the piston element (14) are mutually springmounted. 
     
     
       3. Device as per claim 1, characterized by an electromagnetically driven reciprocating pump (1), connected via a delivery line (2) to an injection device (3), whereby from the delivery line(2) a suction line (4) branches off which is connected with a fuel tank (5). 
     
     
       4. Device as per claim 3, characterized by the fact that the pump (1) has a housing (8) accommodating a toroid coil (9), whereby in the area of the coil passage the rotor element is arranged which is a cylindrical rotor (10) and is carried in a housing cylinder, located in the area of the central longitudinal axis of the toroid coil (9), whereby the rotor 10 is pressed by a pressure spring (12) in an initial position in which it rests against the bosom (11a) of the housing cylinder and whereby the rotor (10) cooperates on the injection nozzle side with the piston element designed as delivery plunger (14) which enters a cylindrical fuel delivery space (15) relatively deeply, this delivery space being arranged coaxial with the housing cylinder and in transfer connection with the pressure line (2). 
     
     
       5. Device as per claim 3, characterized by the fact that a non-return valve (16) is arranged in the suction line (4). 
     
     
       6. Device as per claim 3, characterized by the fact that in the delivery line (2) between the injection valve (3) and the pressure chamber before the suction line (4) a non-return valve (16a) is arranged which in the space on the injection valve side forms an air chamber for the maintenance of a specific static pressure in the fuel. 
     
     
       7. Device as per claim 4, characterized by the fact that the coil (9) of the pump (1) is connected to a control device (26) which serves as an electronic control for the injection device. 
     
     
       8. Device as per claim 4, characterized by the fact that the rotor (10) has a stepped central longitudinal bore (108a) like a blind bore, whereby the final part of the blind bore (108a) is of smaller diameter than a central part and forms a stop face (108), whereby in the central part the delivery plunger (14) is carried by an integrated guide ring (105) which has a larger diameter than the delivery plunger (14) and to that extent is adapted to the widened central bore area. 
     
     
       9. Device as per claim 8, the fact that the guide ring (105) of the delivery plunger (14) is under tension from a pressure spring (106) which is relatively weak and is braced with its other end against the bottom of the blind bore area of the bore (108) in the rotor (10). 
     
     
       10. Device as per claim 9, characterized by the fact that in the resting position the guide ring (105) rests with its annular surface against a circular stop face (107) of the central bore part under tension from the spring (106), which stop face is formed as a step between the larger-diameter central bore part and the smaller-diameter bore part with the opening through which passes the delivery plunger (14). 
     
     
       11. Device as per claim 4, characterized by the fact that the rotor has a through-bore (10a) traversed by the delivery plunger (14), that a circular stop (14a) is attached to the delivery plunger (14) at its free end protruding rearward from the rotor (10), a further stop ring (14b) sits in the pressure chamber (15) of the delivery plunger (14), whereby the rotor (10) is arranged between the two stop rings (14a) and (14b) with an interspace which represents the possible acceleration stroke of the rotor (10). 
     
     
       12. Device as per claim 11, characterized by the fact that the rotor retum spring (12) engages over the stop ring (14b). 
     
     
       13. Device as per claim 11, characterized by the fact that the rotor (10) is tensioned at its rear by the return spring (12) which is braced against the bottom (11a) of the interior space (11). 
     
     
       14. Device as per claim 13, characterized by the fact that the stop ring (14b) has towards the rotor (10) an annular space (14c) in which a spring (14d)is accommodated, which spring is braced on one side against the rotor (10) and on the other against the bottom of the annular space (14c). 
     
     
       15. Fuel injection device operating according to the solid-state energy storage principle, whereby a rotor element (10) contained in a pump housing of an electromagnetically driven reciprocating pump (1) is accelerated virtually without resistance, whereby the rotor element (10) stores kinetic energy and impacts on a piston element (14), so that a pressure impulse is generated in the fuel contained in a sealed pressure chamber before the piston element (14) due to the fact that the stored kinetic energy of the rotor element (1 O) is transferred via the piston element (14) to the fuel contained in the pressure chamber and whereby the pressure impulse is used for the injection of fuel through an injection device (3), characterized by integration of the injection device (3) and the injection pump (1), whereby in a common housing an inner housing cylinder (300) is provided which is divided by a non-magnetic ring element (301) into a section enclosing the injection pump rotor (10), so that a coil (9) can apply a force to the rotor (10). 
     
     
       16. Device as per claim 15, characterized by the fact that the two housing areas of the housing cylinder (300) near the ring element (301) are interconnected hydraulically tight and the coil (9) is positioned on the outer circumference of the housing cylinder (300), whereby the coil engages over the ring element (310) in axial direction. 
     
     
       17. Device as per claim 15 characterized by a cylindrical housing part (302) surrounding the housing cylinder (300) and enclosing the coil (9) from outside. 
     
     
       18. Device as per claim 15, characterized by the fact that on a tank-side end a connecting part (303) which has a through-bore (305) serving as fuel supply line, is screwed in. 
     
     
       19. Device as per claim 15, characterized by the fact that the injection nozzle (3) is screwed into a thread at the pressure-side axial end of the housing cylinder (300). 
     
     
       20. Device as per claim 18, characterized by the fact that there is between the nozzle (3) and the connecting part (303) in the housing cylinder (300) a passage with areas of different diameter, whereby adjacent to the connecting part (303) the passage has its largest diameter which forms the working space (306) for the rotor (10) of the injection pump (1). 
     
     
       21. Device as per claim 20, characterized by the fact that the working space (306) is bounded on the tank side by a circular bottom surface (11a) serving as a stop face for the rotor (10) when the rotor is pushed into its resting position by a spring (12), whereby in the bottom surface (11a) towards the tank there follows a cross-section increase of the bore (305) accommodating a supply valve (16). 
     
     
       22. Device as per claim 21, characterized by the fact that a through-bore (309) passes through the rotor (10), whereby this through-bore aligns axially with the bore (205) of the connecting part (303), that the rotor has a diameter-reduced area in the pressure-side end part, the rotor return spring (12)is braced at the rotor (10) against the annular face formed in the stepped area between the smallerdiameter area and the larger-diameter area of the rotor (10), at the other end the spring (12) is braced against an annular surface formed in the housing cylinder (300), against a ring projecting inwards (300a) between the larger-diameter working space (306) and, following towards the nozzle device (3), the smaller-diameter pressure chamber (11) of the passage of the housing cylinder (300). 
     
     
       23. Device as per claim 22, characterized by the fact that the diameter-reduced end of the rotor (10) is so designed that it can pass through the ring (300a). 
     
     
       24. Device as per claim 23, characterized by the fact that the delivery plunger (14) sits in the pressure chamber (11) separate from the rotor (10), is formed as a cylindrical hollow body and has a cylindrical cavity (14e) which communicates with the pressure chamber (11) through axial bores (312, 313), whereby in the cavity (14e) there is a pressure valve consisting of a valve head (310) and a spring (311) acting on the valve head. 
     
     
       25. Device as per claim 15, characterized by the fact that the injection nozzle (3) is inserted in the front face of the housing cylinder (300) and comprises a screwed-in plug-shaped body (314) with a central through-bore (314a) through which passes the push rod (315) of a valve lifter (317) whose tappet head (316) closes the outlet of the bore (314a). 
     
     
       26. Device as per claim 25, characterized by the fact that the valve lifter (317) is actuated by a spring (318) braced on one side against an inner circular front surface of the plug (314) and on the other against a spring washer (315a) arranged at the inner end of the push rod (317). 
     
     
       27. Device as per claim 26, characterized by the fact that the push rod (315) protrudes into the pressure chamber (11) of the housing cylinder (300) in which the delivery plunger (14) is pushed against the ring (300a) by the spring (320) braced against the plug (314), where it rests against a stop face (312) of the ring (300a) with its front face mating with the rotor. 
     
     
       28. Device as per claim 25, characterized by the fact that the push rod (315) passes through the bore (313) and protrudes into the interior space (14e) of the delivery plunger (14), whereby at the end of the push rod (315) there is a ring (322) which forms a support for the spring (311) of the pressure valve (311, 310). 
     
     
       29. Device as per claim 28, characterized by the fact that peripheral slots (313a) are machined in the bore (313). 
     
     
       30. Device as per claim 1, characterized by an auxiliary starting device with a control valve which is connected to an atomizer (506) of the engine and receives fuel from the fuel tank (502) and whose flow resistance together with that of the atomizer (506) is so determined that at starting engine speed with the pressure delivered by a precompression pump (501) the fuel requirement for starting can also be covered without electrical energy supply to the injection device (504). 
     
     
       31. Device as per claim 30, characterized by the fact that after the fuel precompression pump (501) which is connected on the induction side with the fuel tank (502), a branch line of the fuel line to the engine is provided, whereby in the de-energized state an injection device (504) connected to a generator (503) (the injection device being constructed in accordance with the invention and particularly with one of the invention-based embodiments)is inactive and the control valve (505) which may e.g. be electromagnetic, is open for the supply to the atomizer (506) on the engine (500). 
     
     
       32. Device as per claim 31, characterized by the fact that a hand pump (509) on the engine is additionally used during starting for the direct fuel supply to the engine via the atomizer (506) which is arranged in the connection line (511) from the pump (501) to the control valve (505), whereby the control valve (505) is triggered by the injection control (507) via a control line (510). 
     
     
       33. Device as per claim 30, characterized by the fact that the control valve (505) is arranged in the injection line (511) between the injection device (504) and the injection nozzle (508). 
     
     
       34. Device as per claim 33, characterized by a cutout in the line from the injection control (507) to the control valve (505). 
     
     
       35. Device as per claim 33, characterized by the fact that the invention-based auxiliary starting device is used for emergency running, whereby a metering valve (505) effects a fuel quantity variation. 
     
     
       36. Device as per claim 35, characterized by the fact that the metering valve (505) has a housing (520) into which a coil (521) is inserted which serves as a drive of a rotor (522) which is mounted slidable in a bore (523) of the housing (520) and is pushed in its resting position by a return spring (524) against an adjustable stop (525) arranged in the housing (520), while to this stop outside the housing a cable pull is attached, whereby the rotor (522) has peripheral longitudinal slots (527) enabling communication of the fuel in the bore (523) between the front and rear of the rotor (52) and whereby the bulbshaped stop (525) passes through the housing front wall (520b) and in the housing is pretensioned in relation to the housing front wall (520b) by a spring (528) and whereby a metering piston (527) is of uniform construction with the front face of the rotor (522) opposite the stop (525) and whereby this front face additionally is under tension from the return spring (524) which is braced at the other end against the front wall (520a) of the housing (520) and whereby the metering piston (527) protrudes with a tapering end into the delivery line (511) from which moreover a connection line (511a) branches off to the atomizer (506) and whereby the cable pull (526), connected to the stop (525) held by spring force against the rotor (522), is connected to the throttle valve (530). 
     
     
       37. Device as per claim 1, characterized by a hydraulic damping device for the rotor element (10) of the reciprocating pump. 
     
     
       38. Device as per claim 37, characterized by the fact that the hydraulic damping device is constructed like a piston cylinder arrangement, whereby on the rotor (10) there is a central cylindrical projection (10a) which in the last section of the rotor return movement fits into a blind cylinder bore (11b) in the bottom (11a) of the cylinder, whereby the rotor (10) has longitudinal slots (10b) which connect the space at the rear of the rotor with the space at the front of the rotor in the pump cylinder. 
     
     
       39. Device as per claim 37, characterized by the fact that the pump space (11) traversed by the delivery plunger (14) is connected before the piston (10) with the space (11) adjoining the rear of the rotor by bores (10d) which lead into a central transfer passage (10c)in the area at the rear of the rotor, whereby a central pin (8a) of a shock absorber (8b) protrudes with a cone point (8c) towards the opening of the transfer passage (10c). 
     
     
       40. Device as per claim 39, characterized by the fact that the central pin (8a) at the rear passes through a hole (8d) in the bottom (11a) which leads into a damping chamber with a ring (8f) which has a larger diameter than the hole (8d) and whereby a spring (8g) braced against the bottom of the damping chamber, presses against the ring (8f) and whereby a passage (8h) connects the damping chamber (8e) with the rear rotor space (11). 
     
     
       41. Device as per claim 39, characterized by the fact that in the pin (8a) a displacement through-bore is centrally arranged and through which damping medium can be pressed into the transfer passage (10c). 
     
     
       42. Device as per claim 37, characterized by the fact that the rotor (10) during its return movement operates a pump device which simultaneously ensures damping of the rotor (10). 
     
     
       43. Device as per claim 42, characterized by the fact that an oil pump (260) is connected to the rear bottom (11a) of the pump housing (8), which pump has a housing (261) in whose pump space (261b) a pump piston (262) is arranged whose piston rod (262a) protrudes into the working space (11) of the rotor (10), whereby the piston (262) is under tension from a return spring (263) braced against the housing bottom (261a) near an outlet (264). 
     
     
       44. Device as per claim 43, characterized by the fact that the pump space (261b) communicates via an oil supply line (265) with an oil reservoir (266), whereby a non-return valve (267) is inserted in the oil supply line (265). 
     
     
       45. Device as per claim 38, characterized by the fact that of the blind cylinder bore (11b) has a larger diameter than the diameter the cylindrical projection (10a) and the projection (10a) or the blind cylinder bore (11b) has a circular sealing lip(10e) or (10d), whereby the circular sealing lips form the piston seal for the projection (10a). 
     
     
       46. Device as per claim 1, characterized by an injection nozzle with a valve seat pipe (701) with a ring channel (708) at the end, a diaphragm plate (704) pretensioned towards the valve seat, the diaphragm plate having a central hole and covering the ring channel (708), if necessary with a plug insert (702) in the hole of the diaphragm (704) a spring ring (705) and a pressure line (706). 
     
     
       47. Device as per claim 1, characterized by a fuel supply device without a return line to the tank, whereby a second fuel pump, a gas separation chamber with float valve and a condenser are used. 
     
     
       48. Device as per claim 47, characterized by a gas separation chamber (805), into which via a line (804) fuel (802)is pumped by a pump (801), out of which line a pump (810) feeds fuel via a fuel line (809) to an injection valve (811), whereby a line (812) is led back from the injection valve (811) into the gas separation chamber (805) where a pressure regulator (813) and a condenser (814) are arranged, whereby in the gas separator (805) a float (806)is provided which operates a vent valve (807) which is installed in a discharge line (808) coming out into the gas separation chamber (805). 
     
     
       49. Device as per claim 48, characterized by the fact that the fuel line (812) comes out into the gas separation chamber (805) above the liquid level (805a). 
     
     
       50. Device as per claim 48, characterized by the fact that the discharge line (808) comes out into the gas separation chamber (805) above the liquid level (805a). 
     
     
       51. Device as per claim 49, characterized by the fact that the fuel line (804) comes out into the gas separation chamber (805) above the liquid level (805a). 
     
     
       52. Device as per claim 48, characterized by the fact that with the exception of a tank (803) all components of the fuel injection system are arranged in the engine compartment (815). 
     
     
       53. Device as per claim 1, characterized by a rotor excitation coil (9,600) operatively associated with the rotor, and a circuit for driving the rotor excitation coil (9,600) which is connected to a power transistor (601) which via a measuring resistor (602) is grounded, whereby a comparator (603) is hooked with its output on to the control input of the transistor (601), e.g. to the transistor base, and whereby a current setpoint is applied to the non-inverting input of the comparator (603), this setpoint being obtained from e.g. a microcomputer and whereby the inverting input of the comparator (603) is connected to the side of the measuring resistor connected with the transistor (601).